The beginnings of a journey to your dreams carry a lot of unexpected with them and when your favorite celebrities are being talked about, there are so many surprising moments attached to their first step into the industry that you are probably unaware of or maybe they have slipped from your memory. These popular celebrities owe their careers to reality TV shows and it’s time to travel back in time. Let’s recall their beginnings!
Aaron Paul - The Price Is Right
You all know him as Jesse Pinkman in the series “Breaking Bad” but what actually made him enter this world is the question!
Aaron Paul appeared on the game show “The Price Is Right” and that was his first television appearance. Did you know that? It’s quite a surprise for us! No matter the fame that this star has achieved, he can never forget the opportunity that came in the form of “The Price Is Right”.
Beyoncé - Star Search
You can’t stop admiring this queen and screaming her songs in your car. Beyoncé has gained worldwide recognition for her unmatched talent in the music industry. That’s just one way to put it, we guess! Her popularity is hard to describe.
The reality show “Star Search” gave her the first opportunity to be in front of the camera. It might have been a really short appearance but no one can forget the stage that gave them their first chance.
We know you would head to get a glimpse of her performance on the show right now!
Emma Stone - In Search Of The Partridge Family
From “Crazy, Stupid, Love” to “La La Land”, Emma stone has a bag full of super hit movies with her! She is loved in every role she plays on the screen.
Let’s quickly run a flashback for you and let you know where she started her career from. In 2004, she got her first TV appearance on “In Search Of The Partridge Family” and it is still fresh in our minds. We just reminded you of a wonderful moment, right?
Chris Hemsworth - Dancing With The Stars
Oh, that charming smile! We know you just had the same thought on reading his name. He has made everyone fall in love with him with his amazing acting talent and of course, his attractive personality and looks!
However, do you remember where this star began chasing his dreams? It was on “Dancing With The Stars” on Australian television. He had already been tagged as a “star” in his home country! A few years later, he became a worldwide sensation with his mind-blowing performance as “Thor” in Avengers.
Lady Gaga - Boiling Points
While you are still in the “A Star Is Born” zone, Lady Gaga has been receiving great honors including the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for her song “Shallow” in the movie. Why don’t we take a drive into the past and look at this star’s beginning on reality TV?
Lady Gaga came on MTV's prank show Boiling Points as a diner customer. You can easily recognize her in the show if you ever decide to watch a few old episodes.
Lucy Hale - American Juniors
The show “Pretty Little Liars” might have been given her the breakthrough role but that’s not where she got her start. It happened on the reality TV show “American Juniors” where she was one among the five who won. She pursued singing for a while and even releases a studio album.
The field of acting was her true calling and she figured that out soon. Now, we all see her giving the best performance on any movie or show she stars in!
Jennifer Hudson - American Idol
Don’t look so shocked! You knew about this, right?
Jennifer Hudson gave incredible performances on the stage of American Idol in 2004 and they can’t be forgotten. She was among the finalists and that’s an achievement in itself!
Just two years later, she was on the biggest stage being honored with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her debut movie “Dreamgirls”. Can’t doubt her talent even for a second!
Justin Timberlake - Star Search
The show “Star Search” has discovered many shining stars of the industry and Justin Timberlake is one of them. We got a captivating voice as a result of this show. His songs find a way to our hearts and we just can’t stop humming those tunes.
So, if you were still wondering where Timberlake got his start, here are the answers to all your questions. Reality TV paved way for him!
Kelly Clarkson - American Idol
Here, we are talking about the winner of the reality show “American Idol Season 1”. Yes, that’s correct! Kelly Clarkson bagged the first position on this show and we can see how justified her win was. The songs and albums from Kelly Clarkson kept releasing and her journey to fame began!
She has three Grammy Awards in her name and we don’t think there is anything further to mention this wonderful star.
Kesha - The Simple Life
Pause “Tik Tok” for a second and get enlightened with the time when Kesha put her first step in the world of fame!
Kesha had a Reality TV appearance too and if you can’t digest this fact, then here’s the name of the show she landed in - “The Simple Life”. It might be a small part but yes, she has experience with reality television.
Johnny Knoxville - MTV’s “Jackass"
Here’s a reminder that the multitalented star, Johnny Knoxville made reality show appearance and nailed it. How can anyone forget his presence on MTV’s stunt show “Jackass” that made him really famous in the industry?
Soon, he made an appearance on the big screen with the “Jackass” film series. The movies in which he landed roles after his reality TV appearance “Men In Black II”, “Walking Tall” and more!
Miranda Lambert - Nashville Star
This award-winning singer, Miranda Lambert got her start on the singing show “Nashville Star” where she competed with other contestants and was placed third. With that, we got a mesmerizing voice that is staying with us for really long!
Lambert’s country music is topping the charts with every release. You can’t deny that while you are listening to her tracks on repeat in the car!
One Direction - The X Factor
Let’s run a series of flashbacks and go back to when we saw the sensational band, One Direction perform the first time. “The X Factor, remember? The five talented boys conquering the stage of this reality show in 2010 seems like a recent happening. The night might change but our love for them won’t!
They were placed third in the competition but the success that followed is known to the world now!
Carrie Underwood - American Idol
Carrie Underwood has mesmerized us all with her beautiful voice and her songs just keep playing on repeat in our heads. That’s the impact!
We will take you to a time when her name did not create the storm it does now. It happened on the show “American Idol” where her talent first got recognition and was placed first. Yes, that’s true and that show gets the credit of bringing to us this amazing talent!
David Giuntoli - Road Rules: South Pacific
Let’s see where this Detective Nick Burkhardt from TV series “Grimm” found his way into this industry! We would need to go back to 2003 as that’s when David Giuntoli received his first television role in MTV’s Road Rules: South Pacific. We are sure you had a blurred memory of his appearance there.
After that, he was offered many roles in shows and movies and then “Grimm” happened. Now, you know the story of another star in the industry!
Jamie Chung - Real World: San Diego
You might have seen many celebrities on MTV’s reality show “Real World” and Jamie Chung is also one of them. Chung came in for “Real World: San Diego” and that was her television debut. She rose to fame after that as she got roles in “Grown Ups”, “The Hangover Part II”, “Big Hero 6” and many more.
From MTV to such incredible roles, Chung has been on the road to success and it shows!
Josh Henderson - Popstars
Where did you first spot Josh Henderson on your screens? You should not have to think too hard as the reality show “Popstars” is the one where you saw him perform for the first time. Music is not the only passion that he follows, his love for acting is reflected through the roles he plays on various TV series and in films.
Of course, you remember him in the 2006 movie “Step Up” as the love interest of the character portrayed by Jenna Dewan.
So, this is how he managed to come this far in the world of movies.
Katharine McPhee - American Idol
The season 5 of “American Idol” witnessed Katharine McPhee as a runner up! Okay, you’ll need to rewind a little and go back to that season for getting a clear picture of this singer performing on that stage.
The stage of American Idol has surely revealed the hidden talents that craved for an opportunity. Katharine McPhee’s journey is enough to speak about the role of reality TV in the success of many stars!
Matt Lanter - Bravo’s Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model
Can you believe that this handsome man, Matt Lanter was on Bravo’s Manhunt: The Search for America's Most Gorgeous Male Model and did not make it to the top? It’s hard for us to swallow this truth!
We still can’t take our eyes off that stunning face and imagine the impact when he graces our screens or when we watch him playing intense roles on the big screen. He has a successful career as he has been a part of many big movies including a lead role in “The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream”.
What a start to such an amazing journey!
Laverne Cox - I Want to Work for Diddy
Yes, you recognize her from the series, “Orange Is the New Black” portraying the character of Sophia Burset. But we bet you don’t know about this inspiring star’s first step in this industry. Laverne Cox appeared on VH1's show “I Want to Work for Diddy”.
She is also an LGBTQ+ advocate apart from being a wonderful actress. We are just glad she was discovered!
